2. Will the Orioles spend a lot this offseason to build on their contender status?

Baltimore Sun photo by Kevin Richardson

In a word, 'No.' They didn't. Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos told the Baltimore media and his players at the end of the club's postseason run that he would do what was needed to ensure the team's competitiveness in 2013. And, by all indications, Angelos was prepared to open up the checkbook more this winter if that's what it took. But that was not the path that Duquette chose. Some of this winter's best free agents would have cost the Orioles a first-round draft pick, and Duquette did not want to lose that chip for a franchise that he believes needs to be built from the farm system up. The free agents that were deemed more affordable and not tied to a draft pick did not seem to be worthy of the money they commanded, at least in the eyes of the Orioles' decision-makers. So Duquette continued to scour baseball's underbelly for undervalued assets. And, he'll quickly point out, the club's payroll jumped more than $20 million just by retaining the team's nucleus and paying for contractually stipulated raises.

In a word, 'No.' They didn't. Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos told the Baltimore media and his players at the end of the club's postseason run that he would do what was needed to ensure the team's competitiveness in 2013. And, by all indications, Angelos was prepared to open up the checkbook more this winter if that's what it took. But that was not the path that Duquette chose. Some of this winter's best free agents would have cost the Orioles a first-round draft pick, and Duquette did not want to lose that chip for a franchise that he believes needs to be built from the farm system up. The free agents that were deemed more affordable and not tied to a draft pick did not seem to be worthy of the money they commanded, at least in the eyes of the Orioles' decision-makers. So Duquette continued to scour baseball's underbelly for undervalued assets. And, he'll quickly point out, the club's payroll jumped more than $20 million just by retaining the team's nucleus and paying for contractually stipulated raises. (Baltimore Sun photo by Kevin Richardson)

In a word, 'No.' They didn't. Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos told the Baltimore media and his players at the end of the club's postseason run that he would do what was needed to ensure the team's competitiveness in 2013. And, by all indications, Angelos was prepared to open up the checkbook more this winter if that's what it took. But that was not the path that Duquette chose. Some of this winter's best free agents would have cost the Orioles a first-round draft pick, and Duquette did not want to lose that chip for a franchise that he believes needs to be built from the farm system up. The free agents that were deemed more affordable and not tied to a draft pick did not seem to be worthy of the money they commanded, at least in the eyes of the Orioles' decision-makers. So Duquette continued to scour baseball's underbelly for undervalued assets. And, he'll quickly point out, the club's payroll jumped more than $20 million just by retaining the team's nucleus and paying for contractually stipulated raises.